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{{Short description|Genus of venomous snakes}}
{{Redirect|Krait|the ship|MV Krait|the CPU|Krait (CPU)}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Banded Krait (Bangarus fasciatus) by David V Raju.jpg
| image_caption =''[[Bungarus fasciatus]]'' (banded krait), the largest species of krait
| taxon = Bungarus
| authority = [[François Marie Daudin|Daudin]], 1803
| type_species = ''[[Bungarus fasciatus|Bungarus annularis]]''
| type_species_authority = Daudin, 1803<ref name=repfocus>{{cite web |title=Bungarus |work=RepFocus - A Survey of the Reptiles of the World |publisher=Rune Midtgaard |url=http://www.repfocus.dk/Bungarus.html |access-date=21 July 2021}}</ref>
| synonyms = *''Pseudoboa'' [[Nicolaus Michael Oppel|Oppel]], 1811
*''Aspidoclonion'' [[Johann Georg Wagler|Wagler]], 1828
*''Megærophis'' [[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1849
*''Xenurelaps'' [[Albert Günther|Günther]], 1864
| synonyms_ref = <ref name = repfocus/>
}}

'''''Bungarus''''' (commonly known as '''kraits''' {{IPAc-en|k|r|aɪ|t}})<ref>"krait, n." ''Oxford English Dictionary Online''. Oxford University Press (accessed June 30, 2014).</ref><ref>[http://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=krait "krait"]. ''American Heritage Dictionary''. Accessed June 30, 2014.</ref> is a [[genus]] of [[venomous snakes]] in the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Elapidae]]. The genus is native to [[Asia]]. Often found on the floor of [[tropical forest]]s in [[South Asia]], [[Southeast Asia]] and [[Southern China]], they are medium-sized, highly venomous snakes with a total length (including tail) typically not exceeding {{convert|2|m}}. These are [[nocturnal]] [[ophiophagy|ophiophagious predators]] which prey primarily on other snakes at night, occasionally taking [[lizards]], [[amphibians]] and [[rodents]]. Most species are with banded patterns acting as a [[aposematism|warning sign]] to their predators. Despite being considered as generally docile and timid, kraits are capable of delivering highly potent [[neurotoxins|neurotoxic venom]] which is medically significant with potential lethality to humans. The genus currently holds 18 [[species]] and 5 [[subspecies]].

==Distribution==
Kraits are found in [[tropical]] and [[subtropical]] [[South Asia|South]] and [[Southeast Asia]] and [[Indochina]], ranging in the west from [[Iran]], east through the [[Indian subcontinent]] (including [[Bangladesh]], [[Nepal]], [[Pakistan]], and [[Sri Lanka]]) and into Southeast Asia (including the island of [[Borneo]], [[Brunei]], [[Cambodia]], [[Indonesia]], [[Laos]], [[Malaysia]], [[Myanmar]], [[Thailand]] and [[Vietnam]]).<ref> {{Cite web |title=Genus Bungarus - taxonomy & distribution / RepFocus |url=https://repfocus.dk/Bungarus.html |access-date=2025-09-04 |website=repfocus.dk}} </ref>

==Description==
[[File:Bungarus (10.3897-zookeys.1025.62305) Figure 7.jpg|thumb|'''A-B:''' ''[[Many-banded krait|B. multicinctus]]'' '''C-D:''' ''[[Bungarus candidus|B. candidus]]'' '''E-F:''' ''[[Bungarus wanghaotingi|B. wanghaotingi]]'' '''G-H:''' ''[[Bungarus suzhenae|B. suzhenae]]'']]
Kraits usually range between {{convert|1.0|and|1.5|m|abbr=on}} in total length (including tail), although specimens as large as {{convert|2.0|m|abbr=on}} have been observed. The [[Bungarus fasciatus|banded krait]] (''B. fasciatus'') may grow as large as {{convert|2.125|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Smith_pg_411_to_413">[[Malcolm Arthur Smith|Smith, Malcolm A.]] (1943). ''The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, Including the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-region. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. III.—Serpentes''. London: Secretary of State for India. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 583 pp. (''Bungarus'', genus and species, pp. 407-418).</ref> Most species of kraits are covered in smooth, glossy [[scale (zoology)|scale]]s arranged in bold, striped patterns of alternating [[black]] and light-colored areas. This may serve as [[aposematism|aposematic]] colouration in its [[Habitat (ecology)|habitat]] of [[grassland]] and scrub jungle. The scales along the [[Dorsum (biology)|dorsal]] ridge of the back are [[hexagon]]al. The head is slender, and the [[eye]]s have round [[pupil]]s. Kraits have pronounced dorsolateral flattening, which causes them to be triangular in cross section.

==Ecology==
Kraits are [[nocturnal]] and [[ophiophagy|ophiophagous]], preying chiefly upon other snakes including [[Cannibalism (zoology)|those of their kinds]], although occasional hunt for small [[rodents]] and [[lizards]] has been observed.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090213222149/http://kingsnake.com/elapids/kraits.htm Richard Mastenbroek's Elapid Pages: Kraits (''Bungarus'' ssp.)]</ref> They are seldom encountered during daytime while becoming highly alert at night. If disturbed, they usually flee; failing this they tend to coil up with the head underneath the body for protection. Though most kraits are docile and timid, some species thrash fiercely when caught for relocation. Repeated provocation may result in bites which are the last resort of the snakes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Living in Indonesia:Banded Krait |url=http://www.expat.or.id/medical/poisonoussnakes.html# |access-date=2006-06-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060508193102/http://www.expat.or.id/medical/poisonoussnakes.html# |archive-date=2006-05-08}}</ref> Kraits are [[Oviparity|oviparous]], releasing a [[Clutch (eggs)|clutch]] of 12 to 14 [[egg (biology)|eggs]] in piles of [[leaf litter]]. The female usually stays with them until they hatch.

==Venom==
''Bungarus'' contains some species that are among the most venomous land snakes in the world, to mice, based on their {{LD50}}.<ref name=W&C04>{{cite book |last1=Whitaker |first1=Romulus |author-link1=Romulus Whitaker |last2=Captain |first2=Ashok |author-link2=Ashok Captain |year=2004 |title=Snakes of India, The Field Guide |publisher=Draco Books. |location=Chennai |isbn=81-901873-0-9 |page=495}}</ref>{{Verify source|date=November 2021|reason=Please confirm page number. Was unclear if the '495' given was actual reference page like it should be or if it was the total pages of the book.}} They have a highly potent, [[neurotoxin|neurotoxic]] [[venom (poison)|venom]], which can induce [[muscle paralysis]]. Clinically, their venom contains mostly [[Synapse|presynaptic]] neurotoxins, which affect the ability of [[neuron]] endings to properly release a chemical communication mechanism to the next neuron. Following [[envenomation]] with [[bungarotoxin]]s, transmitter release is initially blocked (leading to a brief [[paralysis]]), followed by a period of massive overexcitation ([[cramps]], tremors, spasms), which finally tapers off to paralysis.

These phases of envenomation may or may not be experienced in all parts of the body; they may or may not be experienced simultaneously. The severity of the bite itself and the actual dosage of venom delivered plays a role in the intensity of symptoms. As kraits are mainly nocturnal, encounters with humans are rare during the daytime. Bites mainly occur after sunset, and are often (initially) painless; thus, a bite may go unnoticed if the victim is sleeping or otherwise does not see or notice the krait, further prolonging envenomation damage within the body. Still—whenever possible—medical treatment should be sought posthaste, as a bite from a krait is considered potentially life-threatening. All venomous snake bites must be taken seriously as an immediate [[medical emergency]].

Typically, victims will start to notice severe abdominal cramps accompanied by progressive muscular paralysis, and frequently starting with [[Ptosis (eyelid)|ptosis]]. As no local symptoms are usually seen, a patient should be carefully observed for tell-tale signs of paralysis (e.g. the onset of [[bilateral ptosis]], [[diplopia]], and [[dysphagia]]), and subsequently treated (as quickly as possible) with [[antivenom]]. Frequently, little or no pain occurs at the site of a krait bite, which can provide false reassurance to the victim. The major medical difficulty of envenomated patients is the lack of medical resources (especially [[intubation]] supplies and mechanical [[ventilator]]s in rural hospitals) and potential for ineffectiveness by the antivenom.

Upon arriving at a healthcare facility, support must be provided until the venom has [[metabolise]]d and the victim can breathe unaided, especially if no species–specific antivenom is available. Given that the toxins alter [[acetylcholine]] transmission—which causes the paralysis—some patients have been successfully treated with [[cholinesterase]] inhibitors, such as [[physostigmine]] or [[neostigmine]], but success is variable and may be species-dependent, as well. If death occurs, it typically takes place about 6–12 hours after the krait bite, but can be significantly delayed. The usual cause of death in that situation is [[respiratory failure]]—[[suffocation]] by complete paralysis of the [[Thoracic diaphragm|diaphragm]]. Even if patients make it to a hospital, subsequently entering a permanent [[coma]] (and even brain death from [[Hypoxia (medical)|hypoxia]]) may occur, given the potential for long transport times to get medical care, in some regions.

Mortality rates caused by bites from the members of this genus vary by species; according to [[University of Adelaide]] Department of Toxicology, bites from the [[banded krait]] have a mortality rate of 1–10% in untreated humans,<ref name="ct">{{cite web |title=''Bungarus fasciatus '' |publisher=WCH Clinical Toxinology Resources |url=http://toxinology.com/fusebox.cfm?fuseaction=main.snakes.display&id=SN0018}}</ref> while that of the [[common krait]] is 70–80%.<ref name="ct2">{{cite web |title=''Bungarus caeruleus '' |publisher=WCH Clinical Toxinology Resources |url=http://toxinology.com/fusebox.cfm?fuseaction=main.snakes.display&id=SN0015 |access-date=2011-11-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016212515/http://www.toxinology.com/fusebox.cfm?fuseaction=main.snakes.display&id=SN0015 |archive-date=2016-10-16}}</ref> In common with those of all other venomous snakes, the death time and fatality rate resulting from bites of kraits depend on numerous factors, such as the venom yield and the health status of the victim.

Polyvalent elapid antivenom is effective in neutralizing of the venoms of ''B. candidus'' and ''B. flaviceps'', and rather effective for'' B. fasciatus'', and the monovalent ''B. fasciatus'' antivenom is also moderately effective.<ref name=antivenom>{{cite web |author=Nget Hong Tan |title=Antivenoms against Malaysian poisonous snakes |publisher=University of Malaya |url=http://www.tanngethong.com/Antivenom.htm |access-date=2009-09-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228190338/http://tanngethong.com/Antivenom.htm |archive-date=2009-02-28}}</ref>

==Species==
{|class="wikitable"
! Image
! Species
! Authority
! Subsp.*
! Common name
! Geographic range
|-
|[[File:Andaman Krait.jpg|120px]]
|''[[Bungarus andamanensis]]''
|[[species:Sayantan Biswas|Biswas]] & [[species:D.P. Sanyal|Sanyal]], 1978
|align="center"|0
|[[South Andaman krait]]
|style="width:40%"|[[India]] ([[Andaman Islands|Andaman Island]])
|-
|[[File:Bungarus bungaroides.jpg|120px]]
|''[[Bungarus bungaroides]]''
|([[Theodore Edward Cantor|Cantor]], 1839)
|align="center"|0
|[[Northeastern hill krait]]
|[[Myanmar]], [[India]] ([[Assam]], [[Cachar]], [[Sikkim]]), [[Nepal]], [[Vietnam]]
|-
|[[File:Coomon Krait.jpg|120px]]
|''[[Bungarus caeruleus]]''T
|([[Johann Gottlob Schneider|Schneider]], 1801)
|align="center"|0
|[[Common krait]], Indian krait
|[[Afghanistan]], [[Pakistan]], [[India]] ([[Bengal]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Karnataka]]), [[Sri Lanka]], [[Bangladesh]], Nepal
|-
|[[File:Bungar candi 120608-0343 krw.jpg|120px]]
|''[[Bungarus candidus]]''
|([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]])
|align="center"|0
|Blue krait, Malayan krait
|Cambodia, [[Indonesia]] ([[Java (island)|Java]], [[Sumatra]], [[Bali]], [[Sulawesi]]), [[Malaysia]] ([[Malay Peninsula|Malaya]]), [[Singapore]], [[Thailand]], [[Vietnam]]
|-
|[[File:The Ceylon krait or Sri Lankan krait (Bungarus ceylonicus) is a species of venomous snake endemic to the island Sri Lanka.jpg|120px]]
|''[[Bungarus ceylonicus]]''
|[[Albert Günther|Günther]], 1864
|align="center"|1
|Ceylon krait, [[Sri Lankan krait]]
|[[Sri Lanka]]
|-
|[[File:Banded Krait, Bungarus fasciatus (24025894235).jpg|120px]]
|''[[Bungarus fasciatus]]''
|(Schneider, 1801)
|align="center"|0
|[[Banded krait]]
|[[Bangladesh]], [[Brunei]], [[Myanmar]], [[Cambodia]], south [[China]] (incl. [[Hong Kong]], [[Hainan]]), north-east [[India]], [[Bhutan]], [[Nepal]], [[Indonesia]] ([[Sumatra]], Java, [[Borneo]]), [[Laos]], [[Macau]]; Malaysia (Malaya and [[East Malaysia]]), [[Singapore]], [[Thailand]] and [[Vietnam]].
|-
|[[File:Red-headed Krait.jpg|120px]]
|''[[Bungarus flaviceps]]''
|([[Johannes Theodor Reinhardt|Reinhardt]], 1843)
|align="center"|1
|[[Red-headed krait]]
|South Thailand, South Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, [[Malaysian Peninsula]], [[Pulau Tioman]], Indonesia ([[Bangka Regency|Bangka]], Sumatra, Java, [[Billiton]], [[Borneo]])
|-
|[[File:Bungarus lividus, Lesser Black Krait at Jalpaiguri, India.jpg|120px]]
|''[[Bungarus lividus]]''
|Cantor, 1839
|align="center"|0
|[[Lesser black krait]]
|[[India]], Bangladesh, Nepal
|-
|[[File:Bungarus multicinctus 125204318.jpg|120px]]
|''[[Bungarus magnimaculatus]]''
|[[Frank Wall (herpetologist)|Wall]] & [[species:George Henry Evans|Evans]], 1901
|align="center"|0
|[[Burmese krait]]
|[[Myanmar]]
|-
|
|''[[Bungarus multicinctus]]''
|[[Edward Blyth|Blyth]], 1861
|align="center"|1
|[[Many-banded krait]]
|Taiwan, south [[China]] (Hong Kong, [[Hainan]]), Myanmar, [[Laos]], northern Vietnam, and Thailand
|-
|[[File:Bungarus niger 83013559.jpg|120px]]
|''[[Bungarus niger]]''
|Wall, 1908
|align="center"|0
|Black krait, [[Greater black krait]]
|[[India]] (Assam, Sikkim), Nepal, Bangladesh, [[Bhutan]]
|-
|
|''[[Bungarus persicus]]''
|[[species:Elham Abtin|Abtin]], [[species:Göran Nilson|Nilson]], [[species:Asghar Mobaraki|Mobaraki]], [[species:Ashraf Ali Hosseini|Hosseini]] & [[species:Mousa Dehgan Nejhad|Dehgannejhad]], 2014
|align="center"|0
|Persian krait, Iranian krait
|[[Iran]]
|-
|
|''[[Bungarus sagittatus]]''
|[[species:Akrachai Aksornneam|Aksornneam]], [[species:Attapol Rujirawan|Rujirawan]], [[species:Siriporn Yodthong|Yodthong]], [[species:Yik-Hei Sung|Sung]] & [[species:Anchalee Aowphol|Aowphol]], 2024
|align="center"|0
|
|Thailand
|-
|[[File:Sind Krait.jpg|120px]]
|''[[Bungarus sindanus]]''
|[[George Albert Boulenger|Boulenger]], 1897
|align="center"|2
|[[Sind krait]]
|Southeast Pakistan, India
|-
|
|''[[Bungarus slowinskii]]'' <ref>[[species:Ulrich Kuch|Kuch, Ulrich]]; [[species:David A. Kizirian|Kizirian, David]]; [[species:Truong Quang Nguyen|Nguyen, Quang Truong]]; [[species:Robin Lawson|Lawson, Robin]]; [[Maureen A. Donnelly|Donnelly, Maureen A.]]; [[species:Dietrich Mebs|Mebs, Dietrich]] (2005). "A new species of krait (Squamata: Elapidae) from the Red River System of Northern Vietnam". ''Copeia'' '''2005''' (4): 818-833. (''Bungarus slowinskii'', new species).</ref>
|[[species:Ulrich Kuch|Kuch]], [[species:David A. Kizirian|Kizirian]], [[species:Truong Quang Nguyen|T.Q. Nguyen]], [[species:Robin Lawson|Lawson]], [[Maureen A. Donnelly|Donnelly]] & [[species:Dietrich Mebs|Mebs]], 2005
|align="center"|0
|[[Red River krait]]
|Northern Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia.
|-
|[[File:Paratype of Bungarus suzhenae in life - Oo 521379.jpg|120px]]
|''[[Bungarus suzhenae]]''
|[[species:Ze-Ning Chen|Chen]], [[species:Sheng-Chao Shi|S.Shi]], [[species:Gernot Vogel|Vogel]], [[species:Li Ding|Ding]] & [[species:Jing-Song Shi|J. Shi]], 2021
|align="center"|0
|[[Suzhen's krait]]
|China (Yunnan), Myanmar (Kachin State)
|-
|[[File:Bungarus Walli Wall by Ganesh Sah.jpg|120px]]
|''[[Bungarus walli]]''
|Wall, 1907
|align="center"|0
|Wall's krait
|India (Uttar Pradesh), Nepal, Bangladesh
|-
|
|''[[Bungarus wanghaotingi]]''
|[[Clifford H. Pope|Pope]], 1928
|align="center"|0
|
|China, Myanmar
|-
|}
''*) Not including the [[Nominotypical subspecies|nominate subspecies (typical form)]].'' 
T) [[Type species]]

''[[Nota bene]]'': A [[Binomial nomenclature|binomial authority]] in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Bungarus''.

==See also==
* [[Locked-in syndrome]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*[[George Albert Boulenger|Boulenger GA]] (1896). ''Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ) ...'' London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I-XXV. (Genus ''Bungarus'', pp. 365-366, Figure 26, three views of skull).
*[[François Marie Daudin|Daudin FM]] (1803). ''Histoire Naturelle, Génerale et Particulière des Reptiles; Ouvrage faisant suite aux Œuvres de [[Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon|Leclerc de Buffon]], et partie de Cours complete d'Histoire naturelle rédigé par [[Charles-Nicolas-Sigisbert Sonnini de Manoncourt|C.S. Sonnini]], membre de plusieurs Sociétés savantes. Tome cinquième'' [Volume 5]. Paris: F. Dufart. 365 pp. (''Bungarus'', new genus, p. 263). (in French).

==External links==
*{{EMBL genus|genus=Bungarus}}
*{{ITIS |id=700207 |taxon=Bungarus |access-date=6 May 2006}}
*[http://outsideonline.com/outside/adventure/200204/200204_bit_1.html?rf_region_dd=4&rf_state_dd=&price=4 Detailed account of Joe Slowinski's death via krait bite] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527201952/https://www.outsideonline.com/1917911/bit?rf_region_dd=4&rf_state_dd=&price=4 |date=2020-05-27 }}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q752389}}

[[Category:Bungarus| ]]
[[Category:Snakes of India]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Taxa named by François Marie Daudin]]

Bungarus - Revision history

UnknownEdits0303 at 00:30, 15 January 2026